Week 2 Picks: Big One in Big D

Jerry Jones is very smart. But sometimes he forgets about little things, like the PSL loophole that nearly resulted in the opening of the Dallas Cowboys' new palace being blacked out locally. So while the standing-room crowd might might check in at over 100,000 for Sunday night's game with the Giants, the game narrowly avoided not being televised in the Dallas area.

This is the most important game the Cowboys will play in a while -- a chance to atone for the 44-6 thrashing in Philadelphia in last season's final game that knocked them out of the playoffs.

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The team that likes to think of itself as "America's'' is rated no better than third in the NFC East behind New York and the Eagles, even after a 34-20 opening-day win in Tampa. The Giants are built to win a Super Bowl.

But opening a new stadium might even things out. "You' got to feel like that you can figure to play well at home with the home crowd. You know emotion is a lot of the game,'' Wade Phillips said.

Sometimes.

Last season, the Cowboys sacked Eli Manning eight times and beat the Giants, 20-8 in Dallas, part of New York's late-season slide after an 11-1 start. The Giants are preparing for DeMarcus Ware, who had three of the sacks. They also have subtracted Chris Canty from the Cowboys by signing him in the offseason, although he's got a calf injury that makes him a question mark.

This may come down to crowd noise -- and maybe to J.J.'s videoboard, hovering 85 feet over the field instead of a more comfortable 110 or so. Currently unemployed punter A.J. Trapasso hit it in the first exhibition game, something the Giants' Jeff Feagles, the NFL's best directional kicker, is odds-on to do this week.

Another factor: someone suggested that if Eli Manning sees Ware coming at him, he could throw the ball as high as he can, hit the board and get a do-over.

THE PICK: Cowboys are favored by 3 for home field. And because of stadium opening and injuries in the New York secondary ... COWBOYS 21-17

• New England (1-0) at New York Jets (1-0)

A lot of Patriots haters don't like the media folks who think New England is still one of the NFL's best teams. Hey, first games are often the most deceptive. Throw away the opening 55 minutes of the Patriots' lucky win over Buffalo Monday night and you see what Tom Brady can do with a game on the line.

The QBs are the hook in this one -- Rex Ryan's jabs at Bill Belichick and the trash-talking between the teams notwithstanding. This is Brady's 130th NFL start (102-27) and Mark Sanchez' second (1-0). Yeah, Mark has a better winning percentage than Tom.

And Sanchez has a shot.

The Jets spent the Eric Mangini and Herm Edwards years with a persecution complex. Persecuted by the Patriots and sometimes the Dolphins in their own divisions. Persecuted by the Giants in a region where they've been No. 2 since Joe Willie Namath retired. But Ryan has superimposed his personality on the team and actually made the defense a swaggering, aggressive bunch that gives away nothing to the team with whom it shares a stadium.

Beyond that, the Patriots' defense can be exploited, even by a rookie. Its best player, Jerod Mayo, is out for a while and its leaders -- Rodney Harrison, Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi and Richard Seymour -- aren't around any longer. "How many people are intimidated by that defense?'' Ryan asks, another provocation of Belichick and the Patriots.

But the Pats haven't lost in the Meadowlands since 2000, which covers eight straight wins, although they did lose to the Jets in Foxborough last November, a defeat that cost them a playoff spot.

THE PICK: Patriots favored by 3 for all that history. Also for the things that Belichick can do with a depleted defense to confuse Sanchez. Streaks are there to be broken, but Belichick's schemes against a rookie mean .... PATRIOTS, 24-23


• Baltimore (1-0) at San Diego (1-0)

Both teams have title aspirations, but both stumbled some opening week against teams they should have beaten more easily. In fact, if the ball hadn't moved a couple of inches when Louis Murphy came down with it in the end zone for the Raiders against the Chargers, San Diego might have lost. The Chargers tend to stumble early in seasons anyway -- Norv Turner may be too low-key a coach to get them fired up for the start.

Some folks have suggested that the Ravens' 38-24 win over Kansas City marks a transformation from a low-scoring, defensive-oriented side to running and gunning. Not really. As noted, opening games are often aberrations, especially when starters rarely get to play more than two-and-a-half quarters in exhibitions. Those kinks take some time to work out.

Yeah, the Baltimore defense may not be quite as fearsome as it was with Ryan as the coordinator. Greg Mattison, who joined the Ravens a year ago with John Harbaugh now holds the position, so there may be a shakedown period.

But not for long.

THE PICK: Chargers favored by 3 for the home field, although the game isn't sold out. L.T. is sore, but Darren Sproles may be hard for the Ravens' defense to corral. ... CHARGERS 27-21

• Pittsburgh (1-0) at Chicago (0-1)

All the high hopes that the Bears had going into the season seemed to go poof! in an abysmal performance in Green Bay. Bad: Brian Urlacher was lost for the season. Just as bad: Jay Cutler, who was supposed to be the best Chicago quarterback since Sid Luckman 60 years ago, turned into Rex Grossman by throwing four interceptions.

Grossman? The abuse heaped on Cutler was about as bad and he's made it worse by sulking about it, reinforcing for Chicago fans his reputation as immature that led to him whining his way out of Denver.

Pittsburgh will be without Troy Polamalu, the so-called "heart and soul'' of the defense. You don't win Super Bowls without more than one "heart and soul,'' -- like maybe Hines Ward and Ben Roethlisberger. Add linebackers James Harrison, Lamarr Woodley and James Farrior, and the fans could be giving Cutler the Rex treatment by halftime.

THE PICK: Steelers by 3, which is 6 counting home field. Might be a disadvantage if crowd turns on Jay early. Bears have to be up for home opener, don't they? Or down if Jay messes up again. STEELERS, 20-14

• Indianapolis (1-0) at Miami (0-1) (Monday night)

The Colts were down to three receivers so they brought in Hank Baskett when he was cut by Philly. Don't count on much, because Peyton Manning needs rapport with his receivers and he's not going to get it from Baskett in three days.

Miami made enough mistakes for half a season in Atlanta last week -- not something tolerated by Tony Sparano (and, by inference, Bill Parcells). There's an infield at Land Shark Stadium (now there's good use of naming rights). Might be a factor for a team playing outdoors.

THE PICK: Colts by 3? Nope. Dolphins, 22-20

• New Orleans (1-0 at Philadelphia (1-0)

The Saints get the Eagles at the right time. Despite Andy Reid's suggestions that McNabb might play, it's unlikely. Better to sit Donovan and play Kevin Kolb, whose only extended play last season was in Baltimore, where he gave Ed Reed a personal highlight reel.

Drew Brees will NOT throw six TD passes this week. Jeremy Shockey will NOT score two TDs. But the NFC South may be wide open for the Saints and a win here would help.

THE PICK: This is a pick 'em game that shouldn't be on the board because of McNabb. OK, I'll pick. SAINTS 28-24

• Other Games:

Seattle (plus 1 1/2) at San Francisco -- 49ERS 16-13

Houston (plus 6 1/2) at Tennessee -- TITANS 27-16

Carolina (plus 6) at Atlanta -- FALCONS, 24-17

Minnesota (minus 9 1/2) at Detroit -- VIKINGS, 35-24

Cincinnati (plus 9 1/2) at Green Bay -- PACKERS, 21-13

St. Louis (plus 9 1/2) at Washington -- REDSKINS 24-3

Tampa Bay (plus 5 1/2) at Buffalo -- BILLS, 20-10

Arizona (plus 3) at Jacksonville -- CARDINALS, 21-16

Cleveland (plus 3) at Denver -- BRONCOS 31-19

Oakland (plus 3) at Kansas City -- CHIEFS 19-18

LAST WEEK: 8-8 (spread). 12-4 (straight up)